[Glorantha] Malkioni immortality

[Peter Metcalfe]

Mikko:

>I don't have Arcane Lore yet. Can somebody give me a hint on how difficult
>immortality (un-aging) is to achieve for gloranthan wizards/sorcerers? How
>difficult is it to slow down aging.

For the Brithini and the Vadeli, immortality is a given.

For the other Malkioni, there's only a few data points.

Among the Rokari, Theoblanc is over 150 years old although I imagine
he's white-haired.  The Kings of Seshnela don't appear to have unusual
lifespans.

Among the Hrestoli, both Gundreken and Gaiseron knew Snodal
which makes them at least 140 years old.  Meriatan knew King
Siglat which makes him over 62 years old.

I kind of think that there's two types of immortality at play here.
The first is the agelessness acquired by the prominent Malkioni
as a sign of their piety (exceptional closeness to God or contact
with infinity).  The second is acquired through magic spells and
invariably has some bad ju-ju involved (like bath in virgin's
blood and the like).

For the Malkioni, seeking eternal life is frowned upon for it
implies a lack of faith in Solace at best and at worst, an
admission you're going to hell.  Immortality spells will be
available among the sorcerers (which encompasses more
than just the Brithini) but most of them will only live a
century or two at best.  Pious Malkioni that become
immortal usually become Saints within a century or two
and so don't stick around.

--Peter Metcalfe